The Best Pop Music of 2016

A look at the best pop music of 2016. From Rihanna to Justin Bieber, these are the artists that dominated the charts this year.

Best Pop Songs of 2016

The best pop songs have a catchy melody, strong lyrics, and a certain something — an indefinable quality that draws you in and keeps you coming back. It’s hard to nail down exactly what makes a pop song great, but when you find one that hits all the right notes, you just know it.

There were plenty of incredible pop songs released in 2016, but these 20 tracks stood out from the rest. From catchy earworms to heartbreaking ballads, there’s something for everyone on this list. Whether you’re a diehard fan of pop music or just getting into the genre, these are the tracks you need to hear.

Best Pop Albums of 2016

There was a lot of great pop music released in 2016, but these 10 albums were the cream of the crop.

1. “25” by Adele
2. “Lemonade” by Beyonce
3. ” Purpose” by Justin Bieber
4. “A Head Full of Dreams” by Coldplay
5. “ANTI” by Rihanna
6. “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande
7. “Traveller” by Chris Stapleton
8. “Views” by Drake
9. “Blurryface” by twenty one pilots
10. “This is Acting” by Sia

Best Pop Artists of 2016

The best pop music of 2016 fused tweeness with trap, low-stakes L.A. living with high-stakes Chicago Drill, and hip-hop with rock, all while better understanding the anxieties of teenage life in the 21st century. In a year shaped by presidential politics and social unrest, many pop artists turned inward to explore their emotions and find themselves, and the results were often stunning.

Here are our picks for the best pop music of 2016.

1. Rihanna – “Work” ft. Drake
2. Beyoncé – “Formation”
3. Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
4. Ariana Grande – “Dangerous Woman”
5. Justin Bieber – “Sorry”
6. Sia – “Cheap Thrills” ft. Sean Paul
7. Adele – “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)”
8. Zara Larsson – “Ain’t My Fault”
9. The Chainsmokers – “Closer” ft. Halsey
10. Calvin Harris – “This Is What You Came For” ft Rihanna